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Two people sitting next to each other at a table, but the photo only shows their arms and a shoulder. The left one is holding a cigarette. Between them you can see a round café table, with a glass of beer standing in the middle, bearing the Heineken logo (Photo: Luca Horváth on Unsplash)

Spain | The World Health Organisation (WHO) is back in the headlines, pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50 percent over the next ten years through taxation. This is its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle public health issues. The initiative, dubbed “3 by 35”, was launched at the United Nations Finance for Development conference in Seville, Spain, media reported on 4 July.

Person wearing black gloves is trimming a cannabis plant against a black background; the photo only shows hands, scissors and plant (Photo: CRYSTALWEED cannabis on Unsplash)

United Kingdom | Martin Dickie, 42, is hoping to become the market leader in medical cannabis, planning to invest GBP 20 million (USD 27 million) into his medical cannabis company over the next five years. Mr Dickie, who founded BrewDog with James Watt nearly 20 years ago, now runs Waterside Pharmaceuticals, the newspaper The Independent reported on 12 July.

Motorsport racetrack, with large Heineken 0.0 banner (Photo: Courtesy of Heineken)

The Netherlands | When you think of Formula 1 and booze, what comes to mind? Most probably the iconic image of podium champagne showers. But a new global study by Heineken unveiled on 10 July suggests that F1 fans are increasingly steering towards a more moderate – and often alcohol-free – way to celebrate the sport.

Outdoor tables and chairs in a beergarden (Photo: Richard Heinen on Unsplash)

Germany | Declining demand, overcapacities and price wars are putting Germany's brewers under pressure. According to Veltins brewery, the industry's 6.8 percent decline in beer sales in the first five months of the year is “historic”. “The beer market is currently weakening to an extent that we have not seen since Germany’s reunification [in 1990],” said Rainer Emig, Managing Director of Sales at Veltins on 3 July. Meanwhile, Germany’s third-largest beer brand, Veltins, continued to grow, increasing its total output by 2.3 percent to 1.78 million hl beer.

Panorama of Moscow Kremlin from Bolshoi Kamenny bridge (Photo: Julmin (retouched by Surendil) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moscow_Kremlin_from_Kamenny_bridge.jpg), „Moscow Kremlin from Kamenny bridge“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0/legalcode)

Russia | For the first time Baltika and United Breweries Holding (OPH) have entered the BarthHaas ranking of the world’s top 40 breweries in 2024 – and they were ahead of German rivals, Russian media hooted with jingoistic glee on 3 July.

The illuminated St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow, Russia, at dusk, against a cloudy sky; you can see six very colourful onion domes surrounding one slightly higher tower in the centre; the structure itself is red and white and highly ornamental (Photo: Emiraven on Unsplash)

Russia | Once again, Russian authorities have blocked the sale of AB-InBev’s stake in its Russian joint venture with Turkish brewer Anadolu Efes. The brewer has been trying to get rid of the Russian subsidiary for years.

Werner Brombach, Erdinger (Photo: Erdinger)

Germany | Werner Brombach, 85, the owner and sole shareholder of Erdinger Weißbräu, who turned his brand into a global player, has transferred his shares in the business to a foundation. In June, the Werner Brombach Family Foundation, a non-profit, officially became its new owner.

A hand holding a yellow La Chouffe beverage can (Photo: Quentin Bounias on Unsplash)

Belgium | The secret is out: Duvel Moortgat has been brewing its La Chouffe beer, a Belgian Blonde, which is popular with American drinkers, at the Boulevard brewery in Kansas, Missouri since December last year, Belgian media reported on 18 June.

Soldiers marching along a road in Goma, Congo (Photo: MONUSCO Photos, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

The Netherlands | Heineken has withdrawn its staff from its facilities in conflict-affected areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, having lost operational control, Reuters reported on 20 June.

Boats on a canal in Saint Petersburg, Russia (Photo: Pujalin on Unsplash)

Russia | United Breweries Holding (OPH), the former Heineken unit, seeks to increase the share of premium brands in its revenue to 40 percent this year, up from 30 percent in 2024 as part of the reformatting of its brand portfolio, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. New product launches shall contribute to the effort.

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